Kohala Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s your mate Rusty, and I’ve had a proper look at our stretch of coast for the next 16 days. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a rough run. We’ve got one spot on the menu, Kohala Lighthouse, a solid advanced reef break that’s exposed to the swell, but the wind is gonna be our enemy for most of this stretch.

The water temp is sitting at a comfortable 80°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. No weirdness there.

Now, let’s talk about the long, dry spell. From Wednesday, July 29th, right through to the end of the day on Sunday, August 2nd, the surf is a write-off. The wind is screaming in from the ENE at 12-25 mph, and it’s all cross-shore, making for lumpy, messy conditions. The swell is building, but it’s a short-period, wind-driven affair (7-8 seconds) coming from the ENE, and the energy is high (877-1028), but it’s just not clean. It’s the kind of chop that’ll have you fighting the whole time. For the beginners, when the swell hits 8 ft on Saturday the 1st, it’s a no-go zone – that’s for experts only, and even they won’t have fun with that wind.

We finally get a sniff of something better on Monday, August 3rd. The morning swell drops to 6 ft, wind eases to 16 mph, and the energy is moderate (553). It’s still cross-shore, but it’s a moderate breeze, so the surface will be a bit less of a mess. The guidance says it’s “marginal.” It’s not the best, but it’s the first window where you could poke your head out and maybe find a few.

The real standout, the only one that gets my heart beating a little, is Tuesday, August 4th. The swell picks up a bit of length, hitting 11 seconds in the morning. That’s a proper groundswell pulse. The swell is 5 ft from the ENE, and the energy is moderate (571). The wind is still from the ENE, but it’s a lighter 12 mph and described as “cross-on.” That’s not ideal, but it’s the best wind we’ve seen. For a reef setup like this, that longer period will really get the waves standing up. It’s still a tough call – the rating is poor – but if you’re an advanced surfer and you’re willing to gamble on a bit of chop, this is your window. Keep in mind, this spot can get crowded, so you might be sharing the lineup.

After that, from Wednesday, August 5th, we slide back into the doldrums. The swell drops, the period shortens, and the wind stays nasty. The wave energy crashes down to 84 on the 6th, which is basically flat. There’s a little bump in size around the 7th and 8th, with 7 ft sets, but it’s back to a short, messy 6-7 second period with fresh cross-shore wind. It’s a kite-surfing setup, not a paddling one.

The rest of the second week, from August 9th to the 13th, is more of the same. It’s all cross-shore wind, mostly moderate to fresh, with short-period swell. The energy stays in the low-to-mid hundreds. Nothing to get excited about. It’s a long stretch of poor conditions.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off until maybe Tuesday, August 4th, which is your best bet, but it’s far from perfect. The second week is a flat, windy mess. It’s a tough one, but this area can turn around quickly. Keep your eyes on the forecasts.

Rusty.

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